Public Sector Pension Schemes

We provide expert public sector pension advice on public sector pension schemes for public, private and not-for-profit organisations.

Overview

Our specialist lawyers have considerable experience advising on public sector pension schemes, including the Local Government Pension Scheme, the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme and the NHS Pension Scheme. Recognised for our expert public sector pension advice, we are one of only a few law firms appointed to both the Employment and Pensions panel of the Crown Commercial Service and to the National LGPS Framework for legal services.

We specialise in public sector pension advice related to outsourcing, Local Government Pension Schemes (LGPS) and government reorganisation. Our clients include public sector organisations, private sector contractors and not-for-profit organisations.

We advise on public sector pension schemes in relation to the contractual arrangements which provide for former public sector employees' pensions. Our team produce admission agreements and risk sharing agreements for our clients, advice on pension liability restructuring as well as providing public sector pension advice on all aspects of LGPS investments including in the context of investment pooling and British Wealth Funds.

Areas of focus

Our expertise in public sector pension schemes includes the following:

Acting for administering authorities of LGPS funds in England and Wales on liability management, benefits and governance issues.

Advising on the legal aspects of investments made by LGPS funds including pooling assets and advising on environmental, social and governance factors.

Advising central government on public sector pension schemes in relation to the reorganisation of central government.

Advising central government and local government on public sector pensions issues in the context of local government change.

Experience

Advising the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee (the managers of the Local Government Pension Scheme in Northern Ireland) on the restructuring of pension liabilities within the c£6 billion pension fund.

Advising the Department for Transport on the pension aspects of the incorporation of the Highways Agency to Highways England and the transfer of around 3000 civil servants to a new company (including negotiating the admission agreement which allowed Highways England to participate in the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme).

Advising the scheme manager of an unfunded public service pension scheme on accepting private sector contractors to participate within the scheme.

Advising the Department for Education on the pensions aspects on the corporate vehicle to deliver children's services following the Secretary of State for Education exercising his powers of intervention and directing DMBC (via statutory Direction) to outsource its children’s social care services to a newly formed entity.

Advising the Royal Borough of Greenwich on the procurement of fund managers and terms of appointment.

Advising London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority in relation to pensions issues on the insolvency of the service provider and transfer of staff under TUPE.

Advising the Ministry of Defence on the pensions aspects of the Search and Rescue Helicopters (SAR-H) project which proceeded through a competitive dialogue procurement process.

Advising LGPS administering authorities on liability management and governance in relation to hundreds of employers within the LGPS structure.

Advising contractors on the legal frameworks behind public sector pension schemes and managing risks where they participate.

Advising Beckmann and Martin on the risk of redundancy and enhanced early retirement benefits transferring under TUPE on outsourcing.